get an impression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'get an impression' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in order to express that you have an initial understanding or feeling about something. For example: After meeting him for the first time, I got the impression that he was a friendly and outgoing person.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Every time they look at us, they get an impression," she said wryly.

The New York Times

But to get an impression of the nature of a person, one has to see him in motion.

The New York Times

Talk to Pullman and you get an impression of the head of steam that builds behind a mega-budget franchise.

The Guardian - Film

You still get an impression of fluidity and growth from the grand central courtyard, with its glass roof and seasonal plantings.

The New York Times - Arts

Click on the thumbnails below to get an impression of the scope of the show.

TechCrunch

Watch the video to get an impression of Ameba Pigg's look and feel.

TechCrunch

Given that the comet completes a full rotation every 12.4 hours, we therefore get an impression of its overall outline.

BBC

Information about shareholders, senior management and number of employees might be helpful to get an impression about internal hierarchies and levels of decision-makers.

European Journal of Futures Research

To get an impression of whether self-rated pain intensity bias the estimated effect of workplace accommodations, we re-estimate the model in Table 3 without pain intensity.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

In order to get an impression of the local variability, a selected area with good well coverage has been studied in detail.

Geothermal Energy

She told the TV: "If you leave the premises of the Olympic village, you get an impression that nothing is happening.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, ensure the subject forming the impression and the object of the impression are clearly defined in your sentence.

Common error

Ensure that you avoid statements where it's unclear who is "getting an impression". Vague attribution diminishes the impact and clarity of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "get an impression" functions as a verb phrase used to describe the process of forming an initial idea, understanding, or feeling about someone or something. It highlights the act of receiving or developing a subjective understanding based on available information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "get an impression" is a versatile verb phrase that expresses forming an initial understanding or feeling about something. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used. Its prevalence across both scientific and news sources showcases its broad applicability. When using the phrase, clarity is key, especially regarding who is forming the impression and what they are forming an impression of. Consider alternatives like "form an opinion" for a more formal tone. This phrase is a valuable tool for conveying subjective assessments in diverse communicative contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

form an opinion

Focuses on the cognitive aspect of creating a judgment after processing information.

gather a sense

Emphasizes the intuitive process of collecting information to understand the overall feeling.

develop a feeling

Highlights the emotional aspect of forming an understanding based on experience.

gain insight

Suggests acquiring a deeper level of understanding, often through observation or analysis.

glean an idea

Focuses on extracting a specific idea from a larger context or set of information.

deduce an understanding

Stresses the logical process of inferring an understanding from available facts.

perceive a notion

Implies grasping a preliminary or vague idea about something.

ascertain the nature

More formal, refers to discovering the fundamental qualities of something.

recognize the essence

Focuses on identifying the core or most important aspect of a subject.

acquire a perspective

Highlights the process of adopting a specific viewpoint or understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "get an impression" in a sentence?

You can use "get an impression" to describe forming an initial understanding or feeling about something. For example, "After the meeting, I "got an impression" that the team was highly motivated."

What's a more formal way to say "get an impression"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "form an opinion" or "ascertain the nature", which convey a similar meaning with increased formality.

Is it correct to say "got an impression"?

Yes, "got an impression" is the past tense form of "get an impression" and is grammatically correct when describing an impression formed in the past.

What's the difference between "get an impression" and "make an impression"?

"Get an impression" means to form an understanding or feeling about something, while "make an impression" means to cause someone to notice or admire you. They have opposite meanings.